Overview

INTRODUCTION

The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) provides a New York Statewide criminal history record search (CHRS) for a fee of $65.00. You can submit a CHRS request via our on-line Direct Access program or by mailing in a CHRS application form. The search criteria is strictly based on an exact match of Name and DOB (variations of Name or DOB are not reported). Background checks for companies are also part of the CHRS program. The search results are public records relating to open/pending and convictions in criminal cases originating from County/Supreme, City, Town and Village courts of all 62 counties. Sealed records are not disclosed. Town & Village criminal disposition data is limited (see CHRS FAQs).

The New York Statewide CHRS report has the following limitations and restrictions:

The report does not include Family, Civil, or Federal court case information.

The NY Statewide CHRS Report is based on an ‘exact match’ of Name and DOB. Any ‘variation’ of the individual’s Name and DOB is not considered a match.

The report is subject to non-disclosure of certain case dispositions due to NYS Office of Court Administration’s policies (e.g., Misdemeanor Redemption, non-criminal offense cases) or sealed records under NYS law.

Town Court and Village Court disposition data is not available for the period May 1991 through 2002. As of May 2007, all Town and Village Courts report to OCA. Town and Village disposition data from 2002 through 2007 is limited.

Criminal cases ‘Transferred’ or ‘Removed’ (CPL 725) to Family Court are not reported.

Criminal disposition information which appears on the NYS CHRS Report is as complete and accurate as the ‘electronic data’ furnished to the NYS Office of Court Administration.

The NY Statewide CHRS report is not a nationwide background check.

The NY Statewide CHRS report is not an FBI background search check.

The report does not include case dispositions for ‘non-criminal offenses’ (e.g., Violations, Infractions).

The report does not include case dispositions for individuals whose only conviction was a single misdemeanor more than ten years prior to the date of request (Misdemeanor Redemption Policy).

The results of the NYS / CHRS search is not certified.

In addition to the above and prior to submitting a CHRS application or conducting a search online, please take the time to read the CHRS FAQs section. The FAQs section provides additional information regarding the process, the search mechanism, how names are submitted, and other factors which we hope brings a better understanding of how this search process works.

Include the individual’s full name and date of birth
you want searched. Applications with unclear or omitted information
will be rejected. Each alias and each date of birth is counted
as an additional search.

The results of this process are NOT certified and should
not be confused with a "Certificate of Disposition"
which can only be issued by the court of original jurisdiction.

CHRS results are verified, reviewed, amended, if necessary, and emailed to our customers the following business day - 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. Please note that the entire search request is withheld for review if one or more names result in a record.

Please read the CHRS FAQs for information relating to the accuracy and completeness of the CHRS Report.

PROGRAM
FEE

The fee is $65.00 for Statewide search. Please make checks
or money orders payable to the N.Y.S. Office of Court Administration.
Cash will not be accepted. A $20.00 returned check charge
will be imposed on items returned by the bank.

FILING INSTRUCTIONS

Applications may be mailed to, or filed in person weekdays 9:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., at:

Applications hand delivered are, in most cases, completed within the next business day.

Applications filed by mail must include a self-addressed
postage paid envelope to receive the criminal history
search results. Upon receipt these requests are also processed within the next business day.

PICK-UP INSTRUCTIONS

Hand delivered applications for subsequent pick up must include
a self-addressed envelope indicating "Hold For Pick-Up."
Blank application forms can be picked up at the same address
listed above between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

CHRS RESULTS

The results of the search can be picked up, mailed (include a self-addressed stamped envelope) or emailed (include an email address on the application form.)

CHRS INQUIRIES

Inquiries regarding criminal disposition data should be directed
to OCA's Criminal History Record Search Unit at (212) 428-2943
between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.